Hingis to make pro return at 2013 Series

Five-time Grand Slam singles champion and nine-time Grand Slam doubles champion Martina Hingis will make her return to professional competitive play this summer in the 2013 Emirates Airline US Open Series, committing to both the Southern California Open in Carlsbad, Calif., and the New Haven Open at Yale in New Haven, Conn.

Hingis, who was enshrined in the International Tennis Hall of Fame last weekend, last played a WTA event in 2007. In singles, the former world No. 1 won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open in 1997, falling in the final of the French Open to Iva Majoli to narrowly miss out on the calendar-year Grand Slam.

The Swiss star was also a doubles standout, winning the Grand Slam in 1998 with two different partners (Mirjana Lucic for the Australian Open and Jana Novotna for the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.)

Hingis’ accolades include 209 weeks atop the WTA singles rankings, 35 weeks atop the WTA doubles rankings and the honor of becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion in the 20th century at the 1997 Australian Open, when she was just 16 years old.

She has played World TeamTennis this summer for the Washington Kastles.

"We are honored to have such a great champion of the game choose to make the Southern California Open her first tournament back on tour," said Southern California Open Tournament Director Alastair Garland. "Having just been inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame, it will be a true treat for the fans to enjoy watching Martina play doubles."

"Adding newly minted Tennis Hall of Famer Martina Hingis to the New Haven Open at Yale doubles field is fantastic news, and will complement a very strong singles field featuring five of the Top 10 players in the world," said New Haven Open at Yale Tournament Director Anne Worcester. "I can remember when Lindsay Davenport returned to play doubles in New Haven after she’d stepped away from the tour when her first child was born. Our fans came out in droves to support her, and I know they will do the same for Martina."

For more information on the 2013 New Haven Open at Yale, volunteer opportunities and to secure tickets, log on to www.newhavenopen.com or call the New Haven Open Box Office at 855-464-8366. Also, make sure to join the New Haven Open on Facebook & Twitter for tournament updates, contests and more.